THE impact of BSE, drug residues in food and the importance of food quality assurance will be addressed this week at one of the largest gatherings of vets in Ireland for many years.
Hundreds of vets from the Irish Veterinary Union and the Irish Veterinary Association will hold a joint congress in Killarney, beginning on Thursday.
The conference, to be formally opened by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Yates, will concentrate on the importance of the veterinarian in providing clean food.
Billed as a major scientific event, the three day congress will include lectures on food safety animal welfare, national animal health status and practice management.
Both organisations will hold their annual general meetings alongside the congress and the Irish Veterinary Union will review progress since privatisation of the bovine TB eradication scheme earlier this year.
The 1,000 private vets who are members of the IVU are paid for testing for bovine TB and brucellosis by farmers, not the State, and there is general satisfaction with the scheme's operation.
First indications as to the scheme's effectiveness are likely to emerge. A resolution from the North Cork branch expresses alarm at the escalation of brucellosis in herds.
There is also a resolution from the Louth branch asking the executive to review its participation in the TB Forum which runs the scheme, in "view of the continuing campaign of media hostility to the profession by the Irish Farmers' Association".
The IVU will also select a new president to replace Mr Tom Hanley. Kerry born but Meath based Ms Ann Scanlon may become the first woman to lead the organisation. She is currently vice president.
The Irish Veterinary Association will review its response to the BSE crisis at its a.g.m. and will discuss the Food Quality Assurance Scheme it is drawing up with the IVU for presentation to An Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board.
The congress will also deal with the microchipping of pets in the interests of welfare and address the problem of stray animals.